Earth’s land surface represents the most varied terrain in the whole of the Solar System, gradually transformed by geological motion, atmospheric weathering and sustained biological activity. Its evolution continues to this day, helped along by humanity: deserts expand, forests are cleared and cities grow.

Satellite instruments allow land cover to be classified on an objective global basis, and identify land cover change. They can pinpoint wilderness areas under threat from sprawling settlements, for example, or track patterns of soil erosion. And land cover classification sharpens the accuracy of climate models: pinning down the contributions of localised carbon ‘sources’ and ‘sinks’ for example, or the varied albedos of differing biomass or mineral surfaces.

Other types of instruments contribute more radiometers such as Envisat’s AATSR takes the temperature of Earth’s land, while radar altimetry and synthetic aperture radar interferometry build up accurate three dimensional maps of its surface contours.

12 May 2017

The monitoring of soil moisture on a large scale for the purposes
of hydrological modelling and water management form the major
element of this application. In addition research is aimed at
understanding both soil chemistry and processes.

There are an ever increasing number of applications in support of
industrial development from civil engineering to oil prospecting,
and in the monitoring of urban change and population mapping for
planning and control purposes.

The extensive mapping of vegetation and its condition form key
elements of programmes aimed at the development of national and
international food policies. Whilst ongoing research studies the
more detailed biophysical processes.

The world's wetlands form a unique environment for natural species,
but due to their fragility they are evermore under pressure. The
study of the environment and the change elements which affect them
are the core of this application area.